On February 19th, 2024, a family renting a remote forest cabin discovered a concealed nano camera hidden inside a bathroom ceiling tile positioned to record the shower and toilet area with a 4-year-old child among the guests. The central legal question is whether guests in a short-term rental hold a constitutionally protected privacy interest in the bathroom, and the answer under decades of Supreme Court precedent is unambiguously yes. In Katz versus United States decided in 1967, the Supreme Court established that Fourth Amendment protection attaches to a person's reasonable expectation of privacy, not to the physical ownership of a space. In Minnesota versus Olson, the court confirmed in 1990 that overnight guests hold a legitimate expectation of privacy sufficient to invoke full Fourth Amendment protections even in a property they do not own. >> Hi. >> I'm Alyssa. It's nice to meet you. >> [laughter] >> Deputy McMahon, LA. >> How's it going? >> Good, by you? >> All pretty good. What's that? >> I'm not sure. >> Deputy McMahon, LA. >> Nice to meet you. >> Yeah, we're Go ahead, Alyssa. >> Yeah, I was going to say, I So, we went out to eat last night. We went to gas station and whatnot. We came back here. He We adult got into the hot tub. I went down there and was changing in the bathroom, um, whole nine, and then he walked in there to go pee, and then just happened to notice something black at the ceiling. And when he reached up there and picked it up, he thought, you know, he's like, "That looks like a camera." So, he hollered for me, and I went walking in there. And as I pulled it down, I'm like, I mean, it definitely looked like a, you know, like a little mini cam. So, we pulled the, um, drop ceiling or whatever. We pulled that back, and as soon as I find like it's all linked connected like I don't know. >> I don't know. It's probably pretty tough. >> I was in the hot tub, and we go shower. >> And you're just here that it's recording this picture food or I just only get here? >> Yeah, it goes in here cuz I was tracking it down after that. So, I come in here, and I was peeing. And it was poked through right here. You can I can just barely see it. And I said, "What the heck?" And I popped the I mean, get up there and check it out. We ended up unhooking it. >> Yeah, I did unhook it cuz it was green and flashing like it was on. So, I was just like, "Are you kidding me right now?" We stood on it a couple times, too. >> Well, you never know. >> [laughter] >> I don't know. >> Yeah, we kind of freaked out, man. Like, yeah. >> And if you look there to the left of the extension cord that was running to the back side of the bathroom, it ran clear over there. >> Yeah, that that little piece right there was just barely I could barely see it. And I said, "What the heck's that?" And I popped that little tile and I pulled it down. And uh >> And then that green or the box the black box which was attached to it, it was lighting up green and like flashing like it was actively working. >> That does look like a lens. >> Yeah, that's what I thought, too. So, then that brought me to Now, I know I'm probably just paranoid, you know? And I got a little one here. So, it's like I'm not okay with this at all. So, I pulled it up online and I found it's called a Nano. And I mean, that's just the exact same thing as what that is up there. That's what I looked up like on my cuz I I was like, I was like, "Okay, are we being crazy? Is it really not like, you know, I don't want to call it in if it's not so serious." But, yeah, I got online and I got to looking and I'm like, "That's absolutely exactly what that is." >> The physical setup of this device satisfies the intent element required under virtually every state voyeurism statute. The camera was deliberately concealed inside a ceiling tile. The lens was threaded through a small hole aimed at the shower, and an extension cord through the wall provided continuous power. Under West Virginia Code section 61-8-28 unlawful filming requires three elements intentional placement of a recording device in a space where privacy is reasonably expected without the consent of those being recorded and all three are present here. >> So I I don't even know what steps to take from there. >> So how come through the quarter here? >> was just barely through you know right there. You can see. Yeah, it was and I seen a lens right through there and I said what the heck. And that's when I got her. Like I said we we pulled the thing up by there. >> Yeah, we did all that but and like I said with it flashing green that's why I ripped the cord out. I'm like I'm not >> Oh yeah. >> I don't care. I'm not no. No one is going to sit and record them. >> I got that yeah. >> Yeah, well I don't I don't know. Like we were afraid to message the Airbnb host because it's like I don't know. Obviously if it's someone of that I thought >> Um do you have any information about who owns the cabin or was it through a company? >> It's through Airbnb and it shows that it's something um It was through a >> Come on kid. >> I got [clears throat] to looking on the reviews. It specifically like there's other hosts that can review you know host owners and what not and people keep saying and his girlfriend were great hosts or great um guests. >> contact that I guess the phone number there up Yeah, um >> The reviews kept saying things about it. >> tenant that you guys spoke to on the phone he's making some phone calls to one of our detectives to >> And I didn't get anybody's name. I've just been messaging them on here but it's all coming up under I don't know if they're like a They got multiple of them or >> It's hard to say cuz I know there's a couple of companies that kind of >> Somebody owns it? >> Yeah, they have nothing to do with it. >> Some of them? >> And some of them they actually do it themselves. I don't >> Right. >> I don't know which >> Well, that's what I was like last night. Here, here's like let's just sleep it off and call it, you know, this night, but I can't I can't even sleep in this place now. So, I started googling and what not and I checked out the reviews on Airbnb and people kept commenting and saying his girlfriend. Well, it makes sense because this was trying to turn on the Netflix on the TV last night and it came up saying that you know, the Netflix account was not within the household and it said is this and had @gmail.com. I think whoever is like running it here is >> Okay. >> I don't >> I don't know if there's any more information that goes through this. Okay. Do you want us to >> I did send What was it again? >> Yep, that's what it is. Yeah. >> I've got like multiple photos on here and I did email him some of them, but now the Wi-Fi is down here, so I don't >> Yeah, cuz he was uh home and he checked through to see exactly if we were even allowed or probably sure if we can just take it So, he's seeing about maybe getting a warrant so that we can just go ahead and remove it, but I believe he'll have to go through that process of getting a warrant since it does >> What freaks me out, too, is not only I mean, we have a 4-year-old here with us, but the last two reviews that was literally just this past week or yeah, this past weekend of people that was here, both of them had listed that if they had children with them. >> Getting an actual picture of it up in here. I mean, it's a little ribbon. I mean, what? Look, you can see the reflection of the lens in there. We looked online. >> We looked online. They're $230 online. >> I changed in here like three times since before we found it. >> We've been searching all over since we found out last night. >> But, when you look online, I have no There's like so many different options. >> Did the wife say anything to you? >> Um he's going to call Dave. Cuz >> He talked about getting a warrant. >> Yeah, we're going to have to get a warrant. >> Okay. >> I didn't know if he No, he said he'd get a warrant. >> I mean, what do we do from here? Cuz we're not from around here. >> Yeah. >> We live over like 2 hours away, so >> How long are you guys supposed to be staying? >> Oh, we're out of here today. Yeah, it was just for one night, but we came back and literally changed out from getting out of the hot tub and walked in here and got the mail. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, that extension cord, the one I used with my flashlight, extension cord runs into that closet in here. It has the washer and dryer. It's supposed to be a linen closet, but >> I think it's not. But, the door is locked, but somebody >> Yeah, I was about to say it wasn't completely shut. >> I don't know if there's a light >> Cat now. >> Yeah, there ain't no way. >> Should I unplug that? >> Huh? >> Should I unplug it? >> It They already unplugged it. >> Um so, it's not working. Okay. I don't know how those work, but that's crazy. I never seen a camera like that. I mean, did she show you the thing she found on there? >> What? >> She showed me earlier like looked it up and it looked exactly like it's some nano cam. That's crazy. It's got Look, you know what look like >> I'm guessing there's an extension cord running over. >> I'm just saying. >> Okay. >> Did she show you what >> Is this connected to like something green? Like a green extension? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> It's over there inside the room. >> Yeah, I mean there's a little lantern there on that electrical tape. >> Uh-huh. >> I mean Like I said, you can see her reflection. >> That's crazy. >> That is That's crazy. >> Where is She was wanting to head out last night. It was like 10:00. I was like, "Man, we got a 2-hour drive home." But >> She looked a little bit >> It was still in there. >> It was pointing to straight I mean you could tell it was shining like right towards the shower. >> So, toilet. >> Okay, so it's kind of like >> Yeah, that. >> Just like kind of like your flashlight. >> With You think it was pointing out right there in that hole? >> Yep, right come right out of that hole. That's how I seen it. >> Did you take pictures of that? >> Yeah. Look, if you look up there you can see the light. I don't want to take the cord. >> it. >> I don't want to break it. >> I I mean everybody's been standing on it, so >> I'm not doing it. I don't want to get sued. But I mean I see it. Make sure you take pictures of the extension in the other room. Where did you guys sleep at? >> Uh we slept upstairs. >> if I check? Okay. I'm sure you guys have already done it. Yeah. >> freaked out, so we went up upstairs and >> I don't like these stairs. >> You guys got to We really like them either. They're in a room in a I just got to call something up there and they do. I don't I might have missed something though. It's hard to tell in >> The presence of a 4-year-old child elevates this offense considerably because under most state statutes recording a minor in a space where nudity is expected can trigger enhanced charges under child exploitation statutes, regardless of whether explicit content was actually captured. At the federal level, the Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004 codified at 18 U.S.C. section 1801 independently prohibits capturing images of a person's private areas without consent in any location with a reasonable expectation of privacy. Deputy McMahon makes a constitutionally critical decision when he declines to seize the device without a search warrant. Because in Mincey versus Arizona, the Supreme Court held in 1978 that there is no broad crime scene exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement. Evidence visible at a crime scene does not authorize warrantless seizure from a private dwelling, and since the device had already been unplugged and was no longer actively recording, no exigent circumstances existed to justify bypassing the warrant process. The rental host's listing reportedly included a $500 fee for tampering with cameras, but that contractual provision carries no legal force here. A property owner cannot contract away a guest's constitutional privacy rights, and any clause purporting to authorize covert bathroom recording would be void as against public policy. >> Well, so some of our some agencies have like a detector that they can like find cameras. I'm not sure if we have one. That'd be something I have to ask a detective. I'm about to hit my head off that. >> Okay. Just get locked up. >> Um okay. Is there Is this room unlocked? >> I don't think so. >> Huh. >> And it says in the book in there I mean, I know you're not going to have cameras in the bathrooms or anything. There's one There's camera out back, upstairs, and downstairs. Which is, you know, whatever. That's fine. But inside we were like >> Yeah, no. That's that's no. >> That's how we was We were kind of like pretty clear out what was up there. >> It's crazy. >> No, I mean, I I completely understand. I completely understand. >> We was kind of like iffy on, you know, even calling or like, man, I don't but >> No, you definitely should call. >> Yeah, absolutely. And there's just so much jacked up stuff going on this world and that's just it needs to be stopped. >> It's That's yeah, that's bad. >> I don't care if they see my little naked butt or whatever, but my son and you know, you know how you understand. >> Oh, I completely understand that. Yep. Um, has he given you a statement form? >> Uh, no. >> Okay, I'll go run out the form. How long are you guys going to be here today? >> Oh, we're going to get ready to get out of here. >> Okay. I was just wondering cuz I didn't know how long it take them to get that paperwork to >> I know. That's why I didn't want to We wanted to call last night, but it was 11:00 by the time that we found out and I'm like >> Cuz >> it's late. My headlights are not great on my car, so we just said we're like, nope, we're going to sleep it off and then wake up in the morning, call the day and get out of here. >> Cuz unfortunately today, being a holiday, well, I'd actually go wake the judge up or find him wherever. >> I didn't think about that with it being >> Yeah, he is right across the street today. >> Yeah. Yeah, and I hate it cuz like I told her, I was like, I don't want to leave so that you guys are able to get in here and get what you need, but I don't want to stay here either. I mean, we can give >> Oh, yeah. >> to the front door. I don't know how that works since >> Well, >> it's not technically us being here. I don't know if >> Yeah. >> I mean, it's just >> It don't work. >> And then I mean, they have, you know, they're they're pointed out pointed right there, which is the outdoor ones, but >> Yeah. Is that the main bedroom or >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Bro, were you already looking at it to see >> I looked. >> There's another room like that, but it's locked again, so Okay. >> I I I think this was supposed to be locked, but it was like barely cracked. >> Whoever was cleaning it didn't >> With I don't know when you booked this, did it say like there was laundry? Cuz there's they got washer and dryer in here. Like was it included? >> I don't think so. >> Did you email those pictures? >> I did, but I don't know if they're going through because my service is terrible here. >> Okay. >> It does say that they sent. >> cameras >> Yeah. >> And when we like you guys called we were like, man I like this is really a camera. >> Yeah, but I yeah I've never seen a camera like that ever. >> Yeah, no doubt, man. >> ever >> Pretty crazy. You don't usually >> Dave's supposed to >> He actually had them here. Okay, Dave's coming. >> Yes. >> Okay. So one of the detectives is on his way. >> Alrighty. >> If you guys could just wait for him to show up. >> I mean he'll he'll probably be like 15 20 minutes. >> No worries. >> He's just got to find the office. >> Wait, I ain't going to interrupt. She's she's a little freaked out but >> No, I get it. I I >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever we got to do to get it taken care of. >> Um >> No way it don't happen again. >> Did he give you a phone number? >> No, not yet. >> Sorry, I got my hands full in here. >> No, you're okay. >> How are you? >> I'm okay. How are you? >> I'm pretty good. >> Um What is that noise? >> That's my son. >> Oh. >> A whole 4-year-old. >> [laughter] >> I'm I'm one you talked to initially on the phone. Long story short, there's a detective that will be here >> Okay. >> soon >> Okay. >> to acquire that camera. We have to have a search warrant to have it. >> Okay. >> So, you want me to take it? >> Yeah, I'm going to go take a look at it and see what's going on with it. >> That green extension cord there is the one I was pitching to you. Do you remember that? >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Over here is the So, like I said, they pulled it out. That ribbon there is attached to the camera. The lens was poking through that corner right there. There was a hole there. They said it was kind of angled so that it would have been pointing at the shower. You can see the extension cord running over from the wall over to here. >> See the plug there? They unplugged it. >> Yeah. >> Um Yeah, you can see the little antenna there. There's a box. There they said the squash is green and then the wire was running out over there. There's a piece of electrical tape there, too. And that's where it was poking out. >> Did uh any of y'all use that bathroom? >> Yeah. >> We did. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, you in there? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> It determines the There's >> Yeah. >> A, B, C, and D sections of voyeurism and there's a minor involved. >> Yeah. >> That bumps it up quite a bit. >> He was in there and then I changed >> In Katz versus United States, decided in 1967, the Supreme Court established that Fourth Amendment protection attaches to a person's reasonable expectation of privacy, not to the physical ownership of a space. In Minnesota versus Olson, the court confirmed in 1990 that overnight guests hold a legitimate expectation of privacy sufficient to invoke full Fourth Amendment protections even in a property they do not own. The rental host's listing reportedly included a $500 fee for tampering with cameras, but But contractual provision carries no legal force here. A property owner cannot contract away a guest's constitutional privacy rights, and any clause purporting to authorize covert bathroom recording would be void as against public policy. >> in there two or three times. Yeah, you used the bathroom, he went in there and used the bathroom. When he changed his clothes, he was out here. >> [snorts] >> But he still I mean he walked in there and peed. >> Was it just you guys? >> Yeah. >> I'm assuming you got all their information, phone numbers, stuff of that nature. Did you get his information? >> Yeah, I got his name and date of birth. >> Okay. >> He's got a cell phone if you want. >> [laughter] >> Um Did Did you Were you the one that I sent the email to? >> Yeah, I don't think I >> don't got it? >> don't have it, no. Cuz I was going to show the detective when he came in and I told him the service was poor, but Um >> I got I have a lot of pictures, so I can send more once we get back in a better service, but >> Okay. >> I got got that feeling, too. I got it. I was like off initially figuring it out. I was at plugged in cuz I unplugged it cuz it was green and lighting up, so I smashed it out of the thing, unplugged it. I don't know that. I found it online. Make sure that wasn't a camera, so >> What you been up to? Did you guys go hiking or what? >> Yeah, we was going to today, but we ended up >> It took a turn. >> Yeah, I imagine. >> So, after we've been playing in the hot tub, played some pool ball. >> Okay. Um it's a holiday today, so nobody's in there except for us. So, I called the detective and he's got to get the warrant signed, and he's got to take it to the judge to have it signed. And once that's done, he'll be here, and then him and I will collect that. Um just takes a little bit of time cuz nobody was here cuz of the holiday. >> For sure. >> That's what we were saying earlier. I mean Oh my god, I didn't even think about the holiday, President's Day. >> Do you want us to hang out till >> Uh maybe upstairs? >> Yeah, yeah, for sure. >> I don't know if he told you I said it's cold out and everything. You guys got a kid. I don't care if you know you're in here or whatever. Just obviously don't touch anything else for far as any of that stuff. Have you guys looked everywhere else? >> We have. We slept there and then we went to sleep down there and then we seen that we were freaked out. So we ended up sitting in the nursery and I tried to check everything in there real well before >> It's creepy. Where's the hot tub at? Back that way? You guys look good around there? Somebody live here or is that another rental, you know? >> I think they live there. I'm not sure though. >> Look at the driveways. They're Yeah, they're obviously signed. >> Yeah, yeah. >> I don't know. It's hard to keep up. >> Huh? >> Great camera there. >> Oh, there's a camera right there. >> Yeah. >> I wonder if there's on the other side. I mean, I could see having one of those. >> Yeah, that's What what's the story? All right. Yeah, I'm going to go back to y'all cuz it's hard to move. >> Okay, when you do that, I'm going to uh move in behind you or move in to where you were. >> Okay. >> And I'm going to go up this way. So, I want to take those things again. I think. I don't I think I'll probably file a complaint with them. Certainly, you should be able to do that. Um hold off on that until we're done. >> That's We were saying that hesitate last time. I'm like >> Yeah. >> Do we go ahead and contact them and then I tell him cuz I'm like if it is the owner, I don't want them to know before you guys know. >> Yeah. >> So. >> Um when the detective gets here, he's Lieutenant Detective. When he gets here, um we'll ask him about it, but all of Yeah, even especially before we get like acquired everything, I wouldn't do anything with it. >> Yeah. >> Um probably after we've got everything and you guys go home, you can probably >> Yeah, so I'm going to file a claim on the property before we even because I am not I >> Yeah. And there's that and then if you do file a claim now, they they'll probably rush over here then we got to deal with them and Yeah. >> That's what we were surprised. I'm like I'm surprised we haven't heard anything from them now. You know, they got >> different cameras. >> Yeah. >> They can see >> You said 11:00? >> Yeah. Yeah, check out from 11:00. >> So, we might end up running into cleaning lady cleaning lady or something. Just >> Do they have Do they You want to say they leave contact or anything here? >> This is the name of the >> That's the housekeeper. >> But I've got uh I gave them the number and stuff to this place. >> I said he gave me a phone number and email. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I got it. Yeah, and I guess they're just a booking agency but I don't know. So, I don't know. >> They say that, but I was showing him. Maybe I'm crazy for saying this, but I've been looking into it myself. And whenever you pull the thing up itself, it's got 14 reviews but like first grade during stay. This is like other people that's wrote about. >> That's a couple years ago. >> Yeah. That was 2023. Yeah. >> Someone else said and then he tried to turn on Netflix and it came up and it said, "We noticed that this isn't a you know, that your in-home location or whatever." and it said, "Is this" and it said @gmail.com. >> Okay. >> Is there a connection with that, you know? I don't know. >> Uh, I can't remember. Um, I looked the parcel number up and so I can see who owned the actual property and it was a Lauren and I can't remember the male's name. It might have been So, I don't I don't have it in front of me, but >> Yeah. I thought [snorts] don't do that. Uh-uh. >> I was looking at your reviews. >> Oh, you were looking at my reviews. And these other reviews, it looks like you know, there's been other people one stayed in January 2024 and one was a week ago and both of them have stayed with kids. So, I'm like I don't know. That's what it says on the reviews, too. So, I don't know. I just as a mother, that's disgusting. >> Judge is reviewing the search warrant now, so he'll either say fix this, this, and that or he'll sign off on it and then we've we're good. >> See, it's like I said when we first seen it, we were like, "Are we being crazy? Is this really not a camera?" And then you know, you see the lens on it and as soon as I looked it up that title and you seen that it was duct taped up there, I'm like, "Oh my god." >> Yeah. What's creepy. I'm I was looking up It was like calm or something like that. But, I was trying to figure out which rental cabin it was. We do a lot of rental cabins, a lot. It was like the I noticed in the bathroom where that drop-down small cutout is, it was tilted. >> Yeah. >> There, or half off. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I agree with that. It's creepy. >> Yeah, that's creepy and >> They never >> No, that's what I said. You see this popping movies. You know, I never in a million years would I >> I mean, doing what I do, I'm kind of I don't know if paranoid's the word, but I I mean >> Yeah. >> My girlfriend and I would go to West Virginia and stuff a lot and stay Airbnbs and cabins and I'm like scoping out the place before. >> Yeah, that's what I mean. >> like I'm covering up the thing on the TV. Like, you know, I'm putting a shirt over the smoke detector. >> Yeah, it's creepy. >> Because I This is what I do. So, I'm like >> And you have to be that way. Like, last night, we had a terrible trip since we got here. We went to Hungry Buffalo last night. There was a group of guys sitting in behind us. And we, you know, we've got him with us. They're back there cussing their heads off, going off about the food, going off about the service. I mean, just And this one dude, he stands up and he's like, "I'm about to do something crazy. I have to get out [laughter] of here. I'm about to do something crazy." So, like, my heart's pounding because all this crap is going on in the world today. It's like, you never know. And I'm always on edge and like staying precautious, you know, about stuff. And so, I start panicking. They finally leave. So, we leave. We go to Speedway. We go to Speedway to go get snacks last night. This dude, as we're walking out of Speedway, this dude comes in, has on blacked out sunglasses. It's 8:00 outside. >> I mean, Speedway at night is not an enjoyable place. >> Yeah. He's got on black sunglasses and a black mask up underneath of his And then, he has like a black baton in his hand. >> a golf club, Chad. >> Yeah. >> He was carrying it around. I was like >> Coming in like hot. So, we, you know, we had just put Zayden in the car and I looked at him and I'm like, "Oh my god, is he about rob this store? Like, what's about to happen right now?" >> honestly, we don't have a lot of problems like that around here. >> Yeah. >> But, uh yeah, a lot of the I mean, we have some stuff every now and then as far as the But, honestly, a lot of stuff we have is from rental cabins and stuff. People come from all over >> Yeah. >> Detroit, cross country, and they come here and they >> Yeah, we're already down there. >> Yeah. doing stupid stuff like >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we seen that at Speedway when we got here last night. We're finally like Okay, we're away from all the crazies, you know? We got all of this stuff to kind of relax, and he goes to the bathroom, and I'm like, "Oh my god, this trip was bad from the >> Yeah, we didn't even get out. >> I hate that for y'all. >> We've had good experiences every other time we've come down this way. >> Yeah, this is the first bad experience. >> That's what I told her. Not every place is going to be good. Not everybody's >> Yeah, but now after you see how many different mini cams people can uh anything, literally anything. A screw, a charger, it's insane. And I'm not going to be able to do anything. >> No, ultimately, I mean, they're not allowed in here at all until we actually get there. >> on his little listing online. He has uh $500 fine if you tamper with his cameras. I'm like, "Oh, did you mention all the freaking cameras you got up in here?" >> Does he have any out front? >> Just these two is the only visible ones that we >> I'm going to say I saw the one through the lower door. >> up at the front door. Um But, yeah, it is written there in the $500 fee. The $500 fee for cabin and >> That's a weird That's a weird thing because I get it. Like having a business in a a rental cabin, having a ring camera >> Yeah. >> entrances. But, at the same time, like you can't control whether they shut them off or not when there's guests. That's weird to me, honestly. >> Yeah. We're just seeing that even like that. Me and him been speculating. Me and him been just thinking that maybe it could be a neighbor, it could be a cleaner, anything. But, >> Yeah. >> I don't know. >> Could have been a former Could have been a former guest. >> Yeah. >> Which you would think whoever owns this place would so see that extension cord but like that's not >> Yeah. And like I said, when we first got here, that door down there, it's locked at the door handle, but it was still it had just not even a quarter of an inch and it was barely open, and I just happened to open it up. See that it was washer and dryer, and then I seen the cord running out of the back and I was like, "Oh my >> Yeah. That's There he is. Think just the one or do we have more? >> I looked. There's a ring camera down at the the other door, the basement door. >> Okay. >> There's one right there. >> Got you. >> Uh those are the exposed cameras. I looked around the hot tub and stuff. I couldn't find anything. Uh they looked all around the house after finding the first one and didn't see anything. I'm going to grab something to drink. I guess we'll >> go down and see if we can't follow the trail in the basement. >> Yeah, these stairs suck. >> It's spiral stairs. >> Spiral, but they're big enough for me. My shoulders and stuff won't even Yeah. Sounds like a good time. >> unlock the basement door if you want. >> Is it locked or do you we don't know? >> It's not locked. We'll find out. We can go down there. I don't care. >> All right. We'll unlock the basement door in case it is. >> physical >> That's right. Neither one of us are very small, so >> Where do you want to go? >> Uh-uh. You guys can hold that for me. >> You can have all of that. Get a camera. >> You. >> So you >> That's what I forgot. >> Unless my body cam's on. >> I'm muted. Am I on? >> It's a great idea. >> Deputy McMahon receives a B plus. He correctly required a warrant, coordinated the detective response, and gathered witness information systematically. Though he did not instruct victims to stop handling the device upon arrival and established no formal scene cordon. The victim group receives an A minus their decision to withhold contact from the rental host correctly. Reasoning he could be the suspect was legally sound, but physically mishandling the device before police arrived, including unplugging it and stepping on it compromised its evidentiary value. The first practical lesson from this case is that if you discover a suspected surveillance device, photograph it in place and do not touch it. Preserve the power connection, the storage media, and the exact position and allow law enforcement to remove it under proper legal authority. The second lesson is that covert recording devices disguised as everyday objects are commercially available to anyone for under $250. So before using any bathroom in a short-term rental, inspect ceiling tiles, vents, and any object with a small hole, a blinking light, or an unexplained wire. In Let us know if there is an interaction or legal topic you would like us to discuss in the comments below. Thank you for watching.